AP Psychology Module 2 vocab

The 3 Retention measures

1) recall (picking info out of long term into working memory)

2) recognition (recognizing previously learned info)

3) relearning (learning info easily as you had previously learnt it)

Three-Stage Multi Store-Model

Encode, store, retrieve

Parallel processing

processing multiple parts of a problem at a time

Sensory memory

the immediate, fleeting recording of info in the brain

Short-term memory

Briefly activated memory holding +-7 pieces of info at a time

long-term memory

limitless storage stage of info in the memory system

Working memory

an active upgraded version of short term memory that holds and manipulates information while you solve or work through a problem

Central Executive

Coordinates the doings of the visuospatial sketchpad and phonological loop, focusing in on useful information

Visuospatial sketchpad

Briefly holds info regarding an item’s place in space and appearance; part of your working memory

Phonological loop

briefly holds auditory info; part of the working memory

Neurogenesis

the creation of new neurons

Long-term potentiation (LTP)

increased efficiency of potential neuron firing due to existing connections being strengthened through continuous use

Explicit memories

memories formed through conscious declaration and effortful processing

Implicit memories

memories unconsciously processed through automatic processing

3 variables of implicit memory automatically processed

space, time, frequency

Iconic memory

sensory memory of a visual stimuli

Echoic memory

sensory memory of audible stimuli

Chunking

organizing info into manageable sections to improve memory consolidation into long term memory

Hierarchies

Organizing words into categories, subcategories, and further examples to improve memory consolidation into long term memory

Mnemonics

Physical or mental memory aids that conjure imagery or organize words to improve memory consolidation into long term memory

Spacing effect

studying over long periods of time yields better long term memory

testing effect

memory improves during active recall, not simply re-reading notes

Shallow processing

Processing of info at the elementary level, remembering letters, sounds, or what a word rhymes with

Deep processing

processing at the semantic level, remembering facts, meanings, and definitions

Semantic memory

memory of facts and general knowledge

Episodic memory

memory of event + details

Schemas

mental frameworks used to understand and process info

Hippocampus

acts as the control center of the brain for making explicit memories, indexing events to be later stored

Memory consolidation

the process of storing a long term memory

cerebellum and basal gangia

helps form and store implicit memories

Infantile Amnesia

our memory before age 4 is blank due to undeveloped hippocampus and linguistic difficulties

Amygdala

Reacts to traumatic events by releasing stress hormones that simulate memory forming areas of the brain

memory trace

the physical change of a neural pathway when you store a new memory

Flashbulb memories

Clear memories of emotionally traumatic events

retrieval cues

associated memories that act as clues for the brain when retrieving a memory

Priming

Exposure to x stimulus may result in you reacting differently to y stimulus

State dependent memory

tendency to remember info if your mental state is the same as when you encoded that memory

Mood congruent memory

tendency to remember info when in the same emotional state as when you encoded it

Serial Position effect

tendency to have the best recall of info at the start/end of sequence

Metacognition

Monitoring and evaluating your own thinking

interleaving

Mixing the study of different topics together to improve efficiency

Anterograde amnesia

inability to form new memories

retrograde amnesia

inability to remember info from one’s past

Displacement

when memory is between short-term and long-term, introducing new info that needs to be encoded will push out any info currently in that phase out

Proactive interference

Old info interrupts new learning

retroactive interference

new info interrupts old habits/learning

Constructive memory

the brain’s process of actively rebuilding past experiences during recall instead of recalling single memory

Reconsolidation

Process where accessing a stored memory may alter it before being stored back into long term memory

Misinformation effect

after exposure to misleading info, memory may alter or change as a result

Source amnesia

not being able to remember how/when/where/why you formed info, but still retaining the memory itself

Cognition

all processes associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and yeah i think thats it

concepts

mental grouping of similar objects, events, or people

prototype

the mental image that is best associated with a group, object, or person

Assimilate

to interpret experiences under our schemas

Convergent thinking

Ability to produce single correct answer

divergent thinking

ability to come up with multiple options or answers

Executive functions

high level cognitive skills that allow us to solve complex problems

Algorithm

a rule or equation that guarantee’s solving a problem

heuristics

acts as a mental shortcut that may lead to incoorect answers

Insight

the sudden realization of a problem AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHA

Fixation

inability to come up with a fresh perspective

Mental set

approaching a problem with a mindset that had worked in the past

Intuition

effortless or immediate reasoning using implicit conscious reasoning

Representative heuristic

Judging terms based on how well they align with our prototypes

Availability heuristic

Judging events based on their availability in our memory; the immediate example that comes to mind

overconfidence

Overestimating the accuracy of our statements, resulting in the sunk-cost fallacy and planning fallacy

Belief perserverence

Clinging to our existing beliefs while challenging any opposing viewpoints

framing

how an issue or concept is presented can alter how we receive it through nudging